Always wanted to race in a Pontiac so had to take the chance to go for it here.

I had some great pace and qualified 2nd with some good optimism for the race ahead. But my evening was downward spiral from here on. Formation lap I noticed my gearing was way, way too long. So I shrugged it off and set about working with it. Lined up and my rear mirror blocked the guy with the flag so I had no indication as to when the race started. Bogged down and went into 4th but quickly got back into second. After this it was just about setting off and closing the gap to Austin...

That didn't really happen. I could at best match his times but on some laps would loose 2-4 tenths. His pace was unbeatable. So the pit stops came and I had 43% left on my rear left tyre.. had to change them and fill up as my car only held 83l and was burning 2.2 a lap. Very touch and go. Came out and noticed Austin had plenty of fuel left and to top it off he didn't even change his tyres I don't think. Ended up 37 seconds behind so paced my self for second place only for connection loss with 9 laps to go.

Absolutely gutted but you can't help it. Just got to put it behind and look forward to a week of some of my favourite tracks coming up. Brands (home track) and Monaco!

Well done Austin, simply unstoppable Well done to Petr for second and a good result for Dad getting on the podium

What a great evening, I have had my dose of bad luck here as of late... with my engine blowing up at Phoenix and almost wrecking the whole field during the Avus race on lap 1 . I

So I hopped in a Chevy Camaro and it was pure Nirvana I felt I couldn't miss a beat, pure pure bliss as the chevy engine stream rolled its way around the track. Not to sure what happened but for those 2 hours I dont think I took a breath.

Everyone wondering about the pit stops, I did take tires...only the rears. I was thinking that I was the only one going to need tires so I was trying to get the biggest gap I could before the stops. I wasn't expecting anyone to take tires so when everyone took 4 I was looking at the Race gaps in shock. Got lucky made a good call.

Grant sorry for your luck its always worse when its late in the race.

Thanks HSO for yet another great race.

_________________"The Winner ain't the one with the fastest car, it's the one who refuses to lose." Dale Earnhardt.

I ran a long final gear and leaned heavily conservative for the race.Throughout my practice runs I'd noticed a LOT of engine heat, even after only a few laps. I even dug into the cars files to find out what was acceptable heat as the car seemed to be running hot at all times. I was pushing 270°F (oil) and over 220°F (water)...even with the longer gearing. With shorter gearing that could produce much faster laps times, it was out of sight and I was concerned it would blow. And, I'm still pretty sure it would have had I run a more optimal gear seeking only faster pace.

I knew I'd bog a bit on the start, but the cars ahead of me (and myself) got caught out by the drop of green and I got hit from behind (cars ahead didn't move, took me a second to see the green...sorry for my role in that but not much I could do but sit...nice jolted start though..lol)

Quali P12 and fell all the way to P20 or so after that..but I didn't mind. I was hoping to stay out of early trouble, and besides a few close calls when others lost it, I managed that.Took a while to catch the top 10 battle, but when I did, it was an absolute blast and pleasure to battle with the guys I did....respectful racing all around and for that I am grateful.

Spent the race like that...back and forth. 4 tires on the stop, probably should have tested taking rears only though.Car did well enough, but I was constantly watching the heat as it was my main concern. I think nearing the end the car was about done for...started sounding a bit funky towards the end there.

Eventually landed in P8, and after some good fortune (and misfortune for others) I took P6 in the final laps and held on. Got the checkered at the end, but apparently there WAS one lap left. I wasn't sure because the checkered looked different within the Historix UI stuff....so I went on around. Perhaps Brian was wondering too as he did the same (glad I did, that would have hurt! )

Was all when I saw I finished P6...only to remember the points scheme is slightly different this time around and.....YET AGAIN, I'm one spot off a scoring position in a GS event

Ah, well.....next time perhaps.

Great stuff, and wd up front. Amazing pace, and how some of you maintained the car running it that hard that long, I'm still not sure.Very grateful, as ever, for the broadcast work as well...good stuff!

Just a question about pitstops. I added 19gal? and all 4 tires changed. No Damage repairs Pit time said 93 sec for fuel. 52 sec for tires?Fuel was done in about 40, tires 52. sat 40 more secs while nothing was happening.seemed like a long stopWas this 90+ second stop time similar for everyone? Is it Normal or did I make some kind of mistake?

4tires, fuel, no repairs was 100 second stop for me. tires just take a long time, and just checked to see have a random time of up to 7 seconds per tire. my tires were plenty yellow front and rear by half way so i knew i was taking 4 and a long stop. i certainly lack the "save the tires" skill ;P grats to all that were able to make it, really fun racing.

Several aspects of the mod are absolute crap, which is a pity considering the great 3D models and nice physics (Except the stupid tires). If we see these cars again here it will likely be in AMS already, and much improved in all regards.

The next GS open will be much different car-wise ... and much hoped for as far as I know

_________________"There are two kind of oval racers, those who have hit the wall and those who will hit it" - Mario Andretti

Just a question about pitstops. I added 19gal? and all 4 tires changed. No Damage repairs Pit time said 93 sec for fuel. 52 sec for tires?Fuel was done in about 40, tires 52. sat 40 more secs while nothing was happening.seemed like a long stopWas this 90+ second stop time similar for everyone? Is it Normal or did I make some kind of mistake?

4tires, fuel, no repairs was 100 second stop for me. tires just take a long time, and just checked to see have a random time of up to 7 seconds per tire. my tires were plenty yellow front and rear by half way so i knew i was taking 4 and a long stop. i certainly lack the "save the tires" skill ;P grats to all that were able to make it, really fun racing.

I completely understand that. I just mean the table would looked weird with just one round with "still running" series. Also I looked to the history, only HSO Gold Star season which had less than five races was in 2009. So I've decided to do this